Teen flagger airlifted; man arrested

July 23, 2014

From local sources

TRINITY SPRINGS — Police arrested a Martin County man for operating a scooter while under the influence of marijuana causing serious bodily injury after a teen working as a road flagger was struck and injured Tuesday.

The 10:34 a.m. accident occurred on State Road 450 south of Lundy Road, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Department.

Darell D. Baker, 58, of Shoals was northbound on the highway on a 2014 Tao Tao scooter when the moped struck the 17-year-old juvenile who was directing traffic for a blacktopping company. Police said the teen suffered several head injuries and was flown by helicopter to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville. He was listed in stable condition at last report.

Baker was taken to Daviess Community Hospital for a toxicology screen that came back positive for marijuana. He was arrested and initially held without bond on the impaired driving charge that is a Level 6 felony. A Level 6 felony under Indiana’s new criminal code was a Class D felony prior to July 1.